Free Sunder by Tara Brown Page A

scones in the air.
     
    Betsy greeted him with a smile, “Good morning. Did you sleep well?”
     
    He nodded , it was a lie . He never slept well or unwell. He just slept.
     
    “I hope you don’t mind, but I have to run out this afternoon. My sister passed away a few weeks ago. I will have to go over to the store today and help her daughter take over a few things.” Her eyes flashed like he knew what she was talking about. It took him a moment before he nodded. “Of course. Yes. Do you need assistance?” He needed to meet that niece of Betsy’s. He needed to know what help he would have.
     
    She shook her head. “No, dear. Simple things really. Just making sure she understands the inventory and ordering correctly. My sister ran it for so long that no one but she has seen the books for seventy years, at least.”
     
    Briton offered her a look filled with remorse. “I am sorry for your loss.”
     
    She shook her head and muttered, “No, no. She was an old woman. It was her time. She was tired.”
     
    It wasn’t how the Michaels clan had spoken of it. He sat at the table and took a fresh scone, some lemon curd, and crème fresh. “Is Miles around?”
     
    She nodded, busying about the kitchen again. “Sleeping still. Last night sure tired him out.”
     
    “The long drive probably didn’t help. I know I slept longer than I have in ages.” Briton chuckled to himself. He finished the light, buttery scone with a smile. “Delicious.”
     
    She blushed. “My mother’s recipe. Came with my great-great-great-grandmother’s family from the old country.”
     
    “I see. I meant to ask you about the girl I danced with. Olive. Do you know if she is in school?” What was he doing? Why did he have to open his mouth?
     
    She pointed at him. “I forgot to tell you. I asked Jane Michaels about her last night. She is in school. Twelfth grade.”
     
    He shook his head but looked deeply into her eyes and spoke with conviction, “Ignore my question. Forget I asked you.”
     
    “Oh, uhm okay. What were we talking about?”
     
    He sighed. “School has started, has it not?”
     
    Dear God, stop. He was pleading with himself, but it wasn’t working.
     
    She nodded. “Oh indeed. Fifth of September this year, I believe.”
     
    He drummed his fingers against the table. Betsy looked confused. “You can’t be in school anymore?”
     
    He tried to stop himself but the lie fell from his lips. “I am done my degree in education.” It was true, even if the degree was nearly a hundred years old. “I teach literature and history.” That was the lie.
     
    “I don’t think there is a need for a teacher here. It’s too bad you hadn’t arrived earlier. Certainly a man such as yourself doesn’t work in something so menial as teaching anyway.”
     
    He said with a laugh, “I love teaching.” He hated it. Jesus. The lies were dripping from him. He never worked. He had gotten the damned degree because there had been a girl. With him, there had always been a girl. Unfortunately, there hadn’t been a girl like the one plaguing his mind.
     
    Liv would be the death of him just like his mother had been the death of his father.
     
    He got up and walked to the door. “I will just pop into the school and let them know if they need a substitute or anything, I am here.”
     
    He would then stop by the market and see if they had any spare hearts for sale, because apparently his was taken by a schoolgirl. He hated himself and the way the school called to him.
     
    “All right then.”
     
    He muttered as he got outside, “I am doomed.”
     

     
 
     
 
     
 

Chapter Seven
     
    Liv
     

     
 
    I looked myself over nervously. I had never been the new kid before, and I wanted at least one friend before the day was done. One besides Josh. Girlfriends were a necessity. I had seen plenty eyeing me up at the ball but none had been brave enough to talk to me. Not even when I had danced with Josh.
     
    I smiled